Briquette and process of making same



' 1,452f9 G. A. S VAN WESTRUM BRIQUETTE AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME Apr. 24, 1923.

Original .Eiled Nov. 15, 1915 anon bum,

Patented Apr. 24,

unit srr BRIQUETTE AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME Application filed November 15, 19 15, Serial No. 61,631. Renewed August 4, 1922. Serial No. 579,770.

F0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERARD ANTHONY Soul-inn vAN Wnsrmm, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at 17 West 42nd Street, New York, N. Y., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Briquettes' and Processes of Making Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to the -manufacture of briquettes, blocks and tlie'like and consists in a method or process in which the coal-or other material and the coating and binding agent or composition are keptat all times at a relatively low temperature, never greatly exceeding the melting or fusion point of the binder.

Briefly stated, the process,initspreterred form. consists in reducing coal, lignite, or other combustible substance of suitable character, to a granular condition; thoroughly coating each separate particle with a binder applied in the form of an emulsion and at a relatively-low temperature, with or without apreliminary coating of sulphite of cellulose, or analogous solution; removing the water of the emulsion wholly or substantially; and subjecting the coated particles to pressure suflicient toproduce firm and compact bodies of suitable form and dimensions, adapted for use asfuel. The preliminary coating is deemed desirable in some instances, but it is not essential, and larger or smaller particles may be used, according to the size of the briquette, block or body to be made.

By this process I am enabled to produce briquettes retaining in their finished form all the volatile and combustible elements or heat-producing properties of their components: water-proof in their finished and complete form or even when chipped or broken: and capable of withstanding the et' t'ects of rough handling and changing atmospheric conditions. The preliminary coating with sulphite of cellulose,istarch solut on, or the like serves to prevent the forma ion of'halls during the mixing process, and later. facilitates coking.

By employing a binder in the form of an emulsion. I am enabled thoroughly to coat each separate particle or granule ofc'oal,

lignite, or like body, with a thin layer of the binder. suiiicient to seal the same against moisture; and so o prevent or lessen escape of the more volatile matters, and to preclude Moreover, with ity. and its relatively high percentage of heat units, it not only binds or holds the particles together until all are consumed, but italso aids thecombus'tion of the particles of coal, lignite, or like substances. The production of smoke or free carbon is reduced to a minimum, because of the small quantity of binder required.

In the employment of binders requiring i'usion as a condition precedent to their use or application. it is necessary ordinarily, first to heat nearly to the fusion pointof the hinder, he granules or bodies which are'to receive the coating. in orderto remove moisture. and bring the particles to approximately the temperature of the binder. Otherwise the binder will adhere only feebly to the surfaces to be coated. The emulsion which I use takes up any surface moisture that may be present, and spreads over and adheres to the surface of the particles. the added ,moisturc being insufficient to dilute the emulsion materially or to any' injurious extent. lVith an emulsion which remains fluid at temperatures above the freezing point. there is no necessity for heating it at the time of use. and hence no necessity for heating the granules or pulverulent matter composing the bulk of the briquette. It is, however. important that such body material be above the freezing point so that the binder may not be chilled by coming into contact with a materially colder body, and thus prevented from making the close contact and adhesion that would otherwise reoil, rosin, and soda, potash, or ammonia, or

.ny of them. 'The formula for the emulsion s yariable within reasonable limits, and in act should be variedsomewhat according the nature, quality or properties'of the, cal, lignite, or other substance orsubstances i'orming the body material of the briquettes.

[lie-emulsion which has thus far afforded he most satisfactory resultswith anthracite LIlCl bituminous coal, and with lignite, con- :ists of approximately the following ingrelients or components in about the proporions-stated, to wit:

Asphaltum, about parts;'water, about L0 parts; fatty oil, 2 to 4 parts; rosin, 2 to 2 parts; soda, or potash, or ammonia, 2 to parts, any one or more of these ingredients )eing increased or diminshed in quantity 'as 0I1d1tlOI1S require or suggest. p

An emulsion of the character described )ossesses little or no cementing properties, hough capable of spreading readily over :ur faces, and adhering. to or coating the :ame with a thin film. Such emulsion has. ,he further property of acting asa lubricant, :nabling the minute particles or granules of :oal, lignite, or other body material, to be noved freely among themselves, and thus .0 insure the coating of every face of all the )articles. llhis in turn insures a thorough water-proofing, preventing the access of noisture to the particles, and serving later lS a means of cementing the particles firmly .ogether, the coating or binder being caused lnder heavy pressure to fill the'small voids )r interstices between such particles ofcoal )r the like. I, Y

After all the particles are thoroughly coat- :dor covered with a film of the emulsion it s converted'or' restored to its-original conlition as asphalt, With the other"ing'redients 1amed,if-such be used, united with and disvributed through the asphaltiim, whereupon :ementation takes place, and escape of rolatilematters is prevented. Such reconrersion is accomplished. preferably through he aid of a chemical or chemicals, either a ;oluble metal salt,-such as vsulphate of iron, ;ulphate of aluminum or chloride of zinc, )r a decomposing acid, as muriatic acid,

which will cause the water to separate out p )f the emulsion. In the case of a seaponace- )us emulsion the conversion may be per fectly noma through the aid of heat.

Removal of the water restores the cementng properties of the binder, and the powder ad or granular material being so coated is iext subjected-to pressure sufficient to bring he particles into intimate or immediate conzact throughout their faces. p

The process may be'carried out without :he aid of special-machinery or apparatus, :hough for economy and in order to manufacture briquettes of uniform size, shape and compactness on a large and commercial performed by Volatilizing the amaid of special machinery, a measured quanscale, it will be found advisable to use'mechanical appliances such as grinders, graders,

mixers, conveyors, presses, and driers, or

such of these as may be needed- These, however, rnay be of well lmown and common form operating in their usual manner.

A form of apparatus suitable to the purpose is illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus designed to receive and coat the finely divided coal, lignite, or other materialor ma-. terials to be formed into briquettes with the aid of the binder; showing also a common type of briquetting press arranged to receive the prepared material and mold it into form, andaconveyor adapted to receive the briquettes from the press,--to expose them to suitable drying devicesor media, and to deliver them to suitable receptacles or to other conveyors by which they are finally carriedto suchmeceptacles.

Figure-3 1s afragmentary view of the press Efor .molding' the briquettes.

In the commercial handling of coal. and

like substances on a large scale, considerable ,q'u'antities of fine granular or pulverulent Figure 2 is' a cross section of the chainbers A and K, showing the provision for 'h eatingthe latter ceptacles to vehicles, or vice versa. Large quantities are also found at and aboutfcoal mines. Where a supply. of sufficiently fine material exists, special crushing orreducmg' apparatus may be dispensed with, .but where the coal is in lumps of large size it should be reducedto smaller dimensions. I do not,

however, restrict myself to any particular size,'as relatively large particles or lumps may be used Avhere blocks of considerable 'size are to be produced. It is'advantageous to employ particles of varying size, since by;

reason of the smaller particles working into the spaces between larger ones, voids are" "*prevented or filled, and a firm and compact briquette or block results.

If the process be carried out without the tity of the fine coal, lignite, orthe like, and

of paper stock liqubr,.starch solution, or the ticles receive'their preliminary coating. A

measured quantity of the asphaltic emulsion These liquid preparations should represent is next supplied, and similarly worked-into the mass, so as to-give a second coating,

.bulk. In the finished product the asphalt ordinarily will not exceed from 2 to 5% of the mass. Q

When the particles are thoroughly coated, the asphalt ma be restored to its original state as above escribed.

Of course, if the first coating be not employed the asphaltic emulsion is. added to the coal or fuel particles at the outset.

When the'mass assumes a somewhat mealy state, but while" some slight moisture still remains, the material may be molded into briquettes or blocks of suitable size and form. This may be done by simply pressing the prepared material between the hands, though, of course, better results are attainable by the use of' suitable molding machinery.

through the cylinder.

Referring again to the drawings, Aindicates a chamber or receptacle having a semicircular bottom, and provided at or near one end with a hopper B containing a rotary "feed device or distributor C, such as a bucketwheel, or cylinder, adapted to receive from the hopper and deliver into the chamber A measured quantities of the powdered or granular coal, lignite, or other body material of which the briquettes are to be made. Extending longitudinally through the cylinder is an axial shaft D, provided with oblique blades er wings E, or other suitable agitating and conveying means adapted to keep the material in a state of agitation, and gradually traverse the same longitudinally This shaft D is provided with a belt-wheel F, to which motion may be imparted by a belt G or other means of power transmission from a suitable prime motor. A second pulley a carried by the shaft D imparts motion to a pulley Z) on the shaft of the distributor C through the medium of a belt 0 or equivalent means, thus causing the distributor to deliver material at a uniform rate.

At a suitable point in the length of the chamber A and near the distributor C, is located an inlet pipe H for the introduction of sulphite of cellulose, sulphite solution, starchy solution, or the like, if such preliminary coating preparation is to be employed. This may be provided with a rose or spray nozzle, better to distribute the liquid over the powdered coal, etc., withinthe chamber .A. I indicates an inlet pipe for the asphaltic emulsion, and J indicates a third inlet pipe for the introduction of sulphate of iron or other agent serving to efi'ect a separation of the ,water from the asphalt emulsion. Each of these pipes may lie-provided with a cook or valve by which to control the rate of inflow, and to proportion the supply of each preparation to the contents of the chamber A and to the s eed of rotation of shaft D and distributor chamber or hollow cylinder K havinv an axial shaft L, preferably of tubular fbrm, and carrying oblique blades d suitable for thoroughly working or mixing the mass, and gradually moving it lengthwise of the cylinder, but in a direction opposite to its travel through the chamber A. Communication between the chamber A and cylinder K is afforded by a suitable connecting pipe or passage e 'near the end opposite that at which the hopper B is located.

The cylinder K is preferably steam jacketed, and the'tubular shaft L is advisably perforated, both the jacket and theshaft 'being supplied with steam when necessary from any suitable boiler or generator by appropriate piping or connections. The purpose of thus heating the cylinder K both internally and externally is to drive off the bulk of the water or moisture from the mass of material traversing the cylinder K, and

thus to bring the mass to a proper condition for molding. The cylinder K issupportcd by a suitable framework, and in turnsupports the chamber A. Said cylinder is provided at the end opposite that at which its Supply opening 6 is located, with a discharge opening and spout j", which may deliver the prepared material to any suitable container or receptacle, storage bin, or the like, or preferably, to the feed hopper M of a molding press N, here represented as comprising four peripherally-pocketed rolls g, arranged in pairs, those of each pair running in peripheral contact, so that the material falling into the bite of the rolls is received in the pockets formed by mating recesses of the two rolls. Suitable scrapers carried by a vertical shaft concentric with the hopper M and geared or driven, serve to agitate and loosen up the material in said hopper, and to discharge it in constant streams through openings in the bottom of the hopper.

The apparatus so described, including the molding press, is all of usual type'and construction, and is merely illustrative.

The briquettesformed in'the pockets of the moldingrolls are discharged therefrom after passing below the horizontal plane of the axes of said rolls, and fall uponan inclined vibrating screen 0 by which they are directed to the boot of an endless chain elevator'P, The vibrating screen 0 serves to deliver into a dust bin beneath it the small particles, dust, etc., resulting from the thin film or web which is produced by the squeezing out. of the material, and more particulit) erses them over a heater Q, which dries off the moisture brought to their surfaces by the heavy pressure'to which they, are sub-' jected in the molding operation, such limited percentageiof moisture being intentionally left in the preparcd'mass to facilitate the movement and rearrangement of theparticles while" in the mold, and to prevent adherence of the briquettes to the molds. Any equivalent means of drying the briquettes may be employed, such, for instance, as fans forcing currents of air over and into contact with the briquettes. No claim is herein made to the apparatus per se.

As has been indicated, the leading or prominent feature of my invention resides in the use of a binder applied in the form of an asphaltic emulsion capable of being subsequently freed of its water component and restored to substantially its original asphaltic condition, in which condition it possesses high power of cementation, and also serves as an efficient prptectionagainst the entrance of moisture. or the escape of volatile elements of the coal, lignite, or like substance. j

The most perfect results. are attainable through theuse of a,v pure asphaltic emulsion,'that is to say, one having no pitch, tar,

or like substance, added-to or combined with v the asphalt. Owing,'however, to their greater cheapness, and to the-relatively slight impairment of the emulsion through use of a limited percentage of such pitch, tar, or the like, it willbe found expedient in many cases tolemp-loy the same.

. In the. foregoing description reference is made to sulphideof cellulose or analogous solution. In the manufacture of wood pulp or paper -stock,use is sometimes made of one and sometimes of another soda preparation, and the waste liquor is commonly called by different names accordingly as pulp liquor, sulphite of cellulose, paper stockliquor, etc. the term .paper stock liquor used in the claims-is intended to cover such liquors generally and it and the phrase sulphite of cellulose 01 analogous solution are both to be read with this'understanding. j I

I am aware that it has been proposed to grind coal-tar pitch, water-gas pitch. or'

similarbitumen-bearing cementitious solid,

' in water or other liquid in which it is not soluble, to produce a fluent mixture; to inoor orate this cementitious 'mix'ture with coa or other body material; and subsequently to convert the mass into briquettes by heating it sufficiently to evaporate and drive of the liquid and to melt the particles of pitch, and finally subjecting the mixture so produced to pressure in molds of suitable form and size. I am not aware, however,

that any one has in fact succeededtin making a stable fluent mixture bymerely grinding perature below that of such 'volatilization,

a briquette or like solid and compact body, each and every particle of which is individually coated with a waterproof cementing body serving under pressure to bind and hold firmly together, and to protect against moisture, even in caseof fracture or abrasion, the briquette and its separate portions and particles. 7

By my method of procedure, which inliquid preparation in which there is a minute division of one fluid in another as contra-distinguished from a mere suspension or floating of a powderedsolid in a liquid), I am enabled completely and perfectly to apply to and leave upon the entire superficial area of eaclf individual particle of coal, lignite,

or, like combustible material employed in the manufacture of the briquette, athin,

strongly adhering film or coating which, on

elimination of the. water serves as a waterproof coating; and as a strong cementing medium, whereby the particles; are tenaciously held one to another and protected against volve's the use of a true emulsion (that is, a

disintegration under varying atmospheric conditions, or in consequence of considerable pressure, impact or attrition.

*I am further awarethat it has been proposedto produce fuel compositions in the form ofbriquettes and the*like, by mixing together pulverized coal or other carbonaceous finaterial, and asphaltum or pitch, or both: submittin -a' mixture to perature of 400 F. until liquified,,and then injecting heated grease or lowgrade products of mineral oils. into the mass, with a view to causing the asphaltum to flux-and by me, norwill either produce a briquette having the. properties of those here described and claimed. meZ-nts present and retained in the briquettes produced by my process, would result from the use ofa temperature far below 400 F,

and the presence of ease or products ofthe paraffin g'roup, wo11 d result in the forma- ,tion of dense smoke when the briquettes were burned. I am unaware that (briquettes have ever been commercially or successfully Volatilizationpf ele-- combine with the carbonaceous material prcproduced by either of the processes referred to, whereas highly satisfactory briquettes have been manufactured bymy. process, and sold in carload quantities.

Having thus described my invention,

-what I'claim is: J

- sion; and fourth subjecting the coated par-- 1. The herein described process of pro ducing combustible briquettes, which consists in the following steps performed in the orderstated: first, cbatingsmall particles of combustible material with a solution such as paper stock liquorjto facilitate coking; second, coating the particles so treated with an asphaltic emulsion; third, adding a dchydrating agent as sulphate of iron, to effect aseparationof the water out of the emulticles to pressure. v

2. The herein-described process of producing briquettes, which consists in first coating particles of finely divided combustible material with an agent such as paper stock liquor to facilitate coking; second, coatingsaid particles with an asphaltic emu-lsion; third, separating the bulk of the water contentsfrom said asphaltiic emulsion; and fourth, compressing the coated particles irito compact bodies of the required form and dimensions. I

3. The herein-described process of producing briquettes, which consists in first :coating particles of finelvdivided'combustible material with a/solution' such as paper.

stock liquor to facilitate coking; second, Coating said particles with an asphaltic emulsion; third, separating the bulk of the water contents from said asphaltic emul-' sion; fourth, compressing the coated particles into compact bodies of the required formand dimensions; and" finally removing the surface moisture from said bodies.

4. The herein-described process of producing briquettes, which consistsin coating the individual particles of the body-forming material with an asphaltic emulsion; eliminating the water from the emulsion; and compressing the coated particles into briquettes of the required form and dimensions. 45 s 5. In the manufacture of briquettes, the steps, which consist in coating finely divided particles of combustible matter with asphalt applied in the form of an emulsion, and

thereafter adding a dehydrating agent as sulphate of iron, whereby the bulk of the *water is caused to separate out of the emulsion, leaving the particles coated with asphalt.

GQA process 1 of producing briquettes,'

which comprises as a step in the operation, a

complete and individual coating of the finely divided particles of combustible material with an asphaltic emulsion.

, 7 A process of producing briquettes, which comprises as a step in the operation, a, complete and individual coating of the finely divided particles of combustible ma,

terial .with a saponaceous a'sphaltic emulsion.

8. The steps in the process of producing briquettes, which consist in individually coating the finely divided particles of bodyforming material with an asphaltic emulsion, and subsequently eliminating the water of such emulsion, whereby there is deposited upon each particle a thin and tenacious coating of asphalt.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a briquette produced at a temperature below that of volatilization of any of its ingredients,

and comprising finely divided particles of combustible material each having a thin as phaltic coating of the character set forth, said particles being compressed into close cementing contact.

particles of combustible material individually coated with a preparation such as described, consisting chiefiy of asphalt, said briquette. having its particles-pressed into close contact and the voids or interstices filled by the asphaltic preparation.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a briquette produced at a temperature below that of volatilization of any of its ingredients, and comprising finely divided particles of combustible material each having a thin asphaltic coating of the character set forth, said particles being compressed into close cementing contact, the, asphaltic contents not exceeding five per cent by weight ofthe briquette.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GERARD ANTHONY SCHADE van WESTRUM. 

